Principal Quality Engineer/ Sr Principal Quality Engineer 3/4

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 99,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer (Level 3) or Sr. Principal Quality Engineer (Level 4) to join the VMDA team in Baltimore, MD.

The role is 100% onsite and focuses on leadership of nonconforming material disposition, supplier quality actions, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering and production. Ideal candidates have extensive experience with QA systems (AS9100/ISO 9001), root cause methodologies, and audits; U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM with 5+ years manufacturing experience or Master’s with 3+ years
• Experience with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems
• Experience with 8D or 5 Why root-cause methodologies
• Experience conducting internal audits to verify procedures
• Experience working with suppliers on corrective actions
• Ability to obtain/maintain U.S. Government Secret Clearance (U.S. Citizenship required)

Responsibilities

• Review nonconforming material reports and supplier quality notifications
• Lead disposition of nonconforming material (use-as-is, repair, rework, scrap, return to vendor)
• Lead investigations and present corrective action boards
• Provide status updates to directors and managers
• Verify flow-down requirements on contracts and docs
• Interpret technical drawings
• Coordinate segregation and control of nonconforming material
• Engage with vendors to resolve nonconforming material
• Maintain records in quality systems
• Develop and present quality metrics and reports
• Collaborate with engineering on vendor defects impact
• Support VMDA compliance and audits
• Participate in continuous improvement for quality and nonconformances
• Contribute to quality procedures and work instructions
• Support incoming inspection activities and training of new team members

Skills

Quality management

Root cause analysis

Audits

Supplier collaboration

Data analysis (Excel/Minitab/Power BI)

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Tools

SAP

Excel

Minitab

Power BI

SQL

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No

CLEARANCE TYPE: None

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Sector is seeking a Principal Quality Engineer / Sr. Principal Quality Engineer – Level 3 or Level 4 to join our VMDA (Vendor Material Disposition Area) team in Baltimore, MD. This position will support programs for BWI site.

This position is 100% onsite.

What You'll Be Doing

• Review and process nonconforming material reports and vendor quality notifications related to supplier defects.
• Lead material review and disposition (use-as-is, repair, rework, scrap, return to vendor), ensuring decisions comply with internal requirements and specifications.
• Lead investigations, organizing data, and presenting corrective action board investigations
• Reporting status updates and technical data to directors and managers
• Reviewing and verifying requirements to flow downs on contracts and other documentation
• Interpreting technical drawings
• Coordinate segregation, identification, and control of nonconforming material to prevent unintended use.
• Partner with the Supply Performance Management (SPM) team to communicate nonconformance trends, systemic issues, and risk.
• Engage directly with vendors to manage the return and resolution of nonconforming material.
• Maintain clear, accurate records of nonconformances and dispositions within the appropriate quality systems.
• Develop and present reports and metrics (e.g., quality notification trends, processing turnaround time, defect categorization by program).
• Work closely with Engineering to understand technical requirements and assess the impact of vendor defects on form, fit, and function.
• Collaborate with production floor personnel on rework activities associated with vendor-related defects.
• Support VMDA compliance and audit activities to ensure adherence to all applicable requirements and standards.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing nonconformances and enhancing material quality.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of quality procedures and work instructions related to nonconforming material and supplier defects.
• Support incoming inspection activities and the processing of rejected material.
• Provide on-the-job training and guidance for new team members.

Basic Qualifications – Level 3

• Bachelor's degree in STEM and 5 years of Manufacturing experience or relevant experience, or a Master's degree in STEM and 3 years of Manufacturing experience or relevant experience
• Experience and Knowledge with quality management systems such as AS9100 or ISO 9001
• Experience with root cause and corrective action methodologies such as 8D or 5 Why
• Experience with conducting audits to verify internal procedures are being followed
• Experience working with suppliers to support supplier corrective actions
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance
• US Citizenship required

Basic Qualifications – Level 4

• Bachelor's degree in STEM and 8 years of Manufacturing experience or relevant experience, or a Master's degree in STEM and 6 years of Manufacturing experience or relevant experience
• Experience and Knowledge with quality management systems such as AS9100 or ISO 9001
• Experience with root cause and corrective action methodologies such as 8D or 5 Why
• Experience with conducting audits to verify internal procedures are being followed
• Experience working with suppliers to support supplier corrective actions
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government Secret Clearance
• US Citizenship required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in at least one of the following standards (IPC, J-Std, MIL-STD)
• Experience with ISO9001, AS9100, and AS9145 Quality Management System and AS9102 First Article Inspections (FAI)
• Green/Black Belt Certified in Lean Six-sigma
• Certified in Lean and Six-Sigma methodologies
• Certified auditor
• Experience Facilitating RCCAs with technical groups
• SAP Experience
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff
• Experience leading cross-functional teams to resolve problems or issues
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Minitab or equivalent tools for statistical analysis
• Knowledge of modern skillsets such as Artificial Intelligence, SQL, Power Bi to aid in data analysis and data visualization

Primary Level Salary Range: $98,900.00 - $148,300.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $123,400.00 - $185,000.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.